Automatic car-coupling.



PATENTED MAY 12, 1908. e. WESTINGHOUSE. AUTOMATIC GAR COUPLING. APPLIOATIOR FILED SEPT. 16. 1905.

' Jig 1.

1 of Sept. 9, 1902.

I are coup ed two {counterpart members NITE sa GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CARI-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May .12, 1908.

Application filed September 16, 1905. Serial No. 278,826.

To all whom it may concerns Be it known that I, GEORGE WESTING- HOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny nd State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic car coupling devices for carsor other railway vehicles, and more particularly to that type in which draw bar coupling mechanism is combined with means for coupling the air brake pipe, or other fluid pressure conduits, such as shown in my priorpatent No. 7087 47 The principal object of my present improvenient is the provision of fluid pressure means for holding the locking device in posi tion to more firmly clamp the two counterpart cou ling heads together when the same up.

eIn the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central horizontal section showing the in coupled position; Fi 2 a transverse section of one of the couple!" and Fig. 3 a vertical section of end portion of a coupler head, showing in elevation the face which engages a corresponding face of a counterpart coupler head. As shown in the drawings, the coupler head is formed of a casting 1 of. the desired size and configuration having a projecting portion 2 and a recess 3 for engaging the corresponding parts of a counterpart coupler ,Thead on an adjacent car. Centrally ar ranged, transversely of the coupler, is a vertical and longitudinal plane surface through which one or more openings are made for fluid pressure conduit connections. Above and below this plane surface are formed transverse projections or hooked portions 4 I into locking position.

' and interlock having inclined surfaces adapted to engage with corresponding portions of a counterpart coupler head, each head being provided with a pivoted latch or looking lever 5 having a cam surface for engaging a corresponding curved surface on the projecting dportion 2 of the counterpart coupling hea and a spring 6 acting to force said lever Each coupler head is rovided with a nozzle 10 connected with the hose 13 of the air brake pipe, or other fluid pressure conduit, and communicating by a passage 11 with the opening in the face of the piston 7 eads taken on the line rx of Fig. 1

coupler heads pass one another, whereu coupler, in which is mounted a gasket 12 for making a tight joint.

As thus far described,

the structure corresponds substantially with i that covered in my prior patent'above referred to.

According to my present improvement, a fluid pressure locking device is employed for holding the lever inlocking position when the cock in the air conduit is open and this is preferably arranged by providing a small piston 7 with a tapered stem 8 engaging an inclined groove 15in the lever 5, and a port 9 for admitting fluid under pressure to the By this means the locking lever is firmly clamped in position whenever the members are coupled together and the air conduit is open. I

The angle cook 16 which is employed for controlling communication through the air brake pipe, is preferably of the type in which the space in the pipe between the cock and the coupling. is bled to the atmosphere when the cock is closed. The spring 6 normally forces the latch 5 outward to its locking position and any preferred form of mechanism, such as rod 14, may be employed for withdrawing the latch and releasing the coupler.

When a coupling is jacent car, the coupler heads are brought together by im act, so that the projecting portion 2 of eac head enters the recess 3 of the other, de ressing the latches or locking levers 5 unti the hooked portion 4 of the on the springs 6 force the locking levers with t eir carn-shaped end faces out into' engagement with the corresponding curved surfaces in the notches of the heads, thereby pressing the two counterpart members tightly together with the gasket openings of the fluid pressure conduits in register with each other. The angle cocks may then be turned to open communication through the air pipe connection, whereupon the air under pressure also flows through passage 9 into the cylindrical space beneath the iocking piston 7, forcing the same up against its seat and the stem 8 with its tapered end into engagement with groove 15 of the locking lever 5, thereby securely holding said lovers in locked position.

When it is desired to uncouple, the angle cocks are first turned to closed position, thereby blending the air under pressure from the coupling and space beneath the piston 7, then the locking lovers 5 may be withdrawn to release position by means of pull rods 14 or to be made with an adother mechanism. In this movement of the locking lever the spring 6 is compressed and the groove 15 engages the tapered end of the stem 8,, thereby, forcing the piston 7 downward to its release osition. The coupling is then unlocked an the members free to separate.

It will now be seen that by means of my improvement the-members of the coupling may be securely locked together and effectually prevented from being pulled apart when t e air pressure is on.

Having now described my invention,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An automatic car coupling comprising a casting adapted to be connected to the draw bar for transmitting stresses thereto and having a laterally projecting hooked portion adapted to engage a similar hooked portion of a counterpart coupling, and a fluid pressure locking device for holding said coupling members pressed together laterally.

, 2. An automatic car coupling comprising a casting having a laterally projecting hooked portion adapted to engage a similar hooked portion of a counterpart coupling, a spring actuated locking lever for clamping said coupling members together laterally, and

means operated by fluid pressure for holding said lever in locking position.

3. An automatic car coupling comprising a casting having a rigid laterally projecting hooked portion adapted to engage a similar hooked portion of a counterpart coupling, and an opening for coupling a fluid pressure conduit, and a locking device 0 erated by fluid pressure from said conduit or holding said coupling members pressed together.

. 4. An automatic car coupling comprising a casting having a laterally projecting hooked portion adapted to engage a similar hooked portion of a counterpart coupling, alocking ever for laterally clamping said coupling members together, and a piston and stem operated by fluid pressure for holding said lever in looking position.

5. An automatic car coupling, comprising a having a rigid laterally projecting castin 5 portion adapted to engage a similar member having a laterally projecting hooked portion adapted to engage a similar hooked portion of a counterpart coupling, and an opening for connecting a fluid pressure conduit, a locking lever for clamping said coupling members together, and a piston subject to the fluid pressure of said conduit and havportion of a counterpart coupling,

ing a tapered stem for engaging said locking lever.

7. An automatic car coupling comprising a member having projecting andrecess portions for engaging corresponding portions of {a counterpart; coupling member, and an opening for connecting a fluid pressure conduit, a'locking device comprising a spring actuated lever forclamping said members together, and fluid pressure actuated means for securing said locking device.

8 An automatic coupling .comprising a' rigid laterally projectin hooked portion adapted to engage a simiar hooked of a counterpart coupling, and a fluid presortion sure locking device for holding said coupling members pressed together.

. 9. An automatic coupling comprising a rigid laterally projectin hooked portion adapted to engage a simi. ar hooked portion of a counterpart cou ling, a locking lever for clamping said coup ing members together, and means operatedb holding said lever in 100 'ng position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEO. WESTINGHOUSE Witnesses:

'R. F. EMERY, J. B. MAoDoNnLD.

fluid pressure for 

